Cory Booker Joins Bernie Sanders In Backing Drug Re-Importation Bill
Source: Huffington Post
From a policy angle, Booker has previously been open to the idea of re-importing drugs from Canada and even voted that same night for a measure aimed at lowering drug costs. But politically, activists have long considered him to be a reliable ally of Big Pharma, which is a dominant industry in New Jersey. Thus, his break with the industry at a public event with Sanders is meaningful politically. If the goal of the resistance has been to stiffen the spines of Democrats, it’s working.
Of course, there is no policy without politics. If and when Democrats gain control of government, they’ll be under tremendous pressure from their base to follow through on their promise and do something about soaring drug costs.
The drug industry is powerful in Pennsylvania, too, and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) joined Booker on that late-night vote in January. Since then, resistance in Pennsylvania has been fierce, with activists gathering every Tuesday to pressure lawmakers to oppose the Republican corporate agenda. Casey has not been immune and he faces re-election in 2018 in a state that Trump won with an upset victory. He, too, will join Booker and Sanders on Tuesday in announcing his backing of the bill.
Booker and Casey said they were able to add robust safety provisions to the measure, which won over their support.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cory-booker-bernie-sanders-drug-re-importation_us_58b5a8ade4b060480e0c2b52
While it may be good for Booker to back the drug bill, voting against your home State's industry can also back fire.
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